ICARUS: Is the Console Edition Worth It?

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For years, PC players have been braving the toxic atmospheres and lightning-scarred forests of ICARUS. Now, the session-based survival hit has finally made its descent onto Xbox Series X|S. Created by Dean Hall (the mind behind DayZ), ICARUS isn’t your typical “build a base and stay forever” survival game. It’s a high-stakes race against the clock on a planet that actively wants you dead.

Is the console port a smooth landing, or does it crash under the weight of its own ambition? Let’s break it down.

The Premise: A Planet That Fights Back

The lore is simple but effective: Humanity tried to terraform Icarus, and we failed. The result is a broken world filled with breathable but toxic air, familiar Earth-like wildlife mixed with alien horrors, and incredibly valuable “Exotic” matter.

As a Prospector, you drop from an orbital station to the surface to complete specific contracts. You might be asked to set up a weather station, hunt a local apex predator, or mine a specific vein of ore. The catch? You have a limited time to get back to your dropship. If you miss the window, your character (and all their progress) can be lost to the planet.

Gameplay: The Grind and the Glory

The gameplay loop in ICARUS is incredibly satisfying but undeniably brutal.

  • The Drop: You land with nothing but your suit. Within minutes, you’re punching trees for fiber and stones for a primitive knife.
  • The Tech Tree: Progression is deep. You’ll move from stone-age tools to iron, steel, and eventually to high-tech electricity and firearms.
  • The Weather: This is where ICARUS shines. Storms are terrifying. A lightning strike can ignite a forest fire that burns your entire wooden base to the ground in minutes. You haven’t lived until you’ve frantically repaired a collapsing roof while a hurricane-force wind howls outside.

The Console Edition also wisely includes the New Frontiers expansion out of the box. This adds the Prometheus region—a map featuring volcanic biomes, swampy marshes, and even more aggressive alien life—significantly increasing the value of the base purchase.

The Console Experience: Performance vs. UI

How does it hold up on Xbox? It’s a bit of a “good news, bad news” situation.

The Good: Visuals and Performance

On the Xbox Series X, the game looks stunning. You have two choices:

  • Quality Mode: 4K at 30FPS.
  • Performance Mode: 1512p at 60FPS.

The lighting, especially during sunsets or forest fires, is among the best in the survival genre. The draw distances are massive, and the world feels dense and alive. Load times are also impressively snappy thanks to the SSD.

The Bad: The UI Hurdle

The biggest challenge for console players is the interface. ICARUS was built for a mouse and keyboard, and it shows. Navigating the massive tech trees and dragging items between inventory slots feels “heavy” and occasionally clunky with a controller. While there is aim-assist for hunting, the building system—which requires precise placement—takes some getting used to.

Multiplayer: Better with Friends

ICARUS supports up to four players in co-op. While you can play solo (there is even a dedicated “Solo” talent tree to help), the game is clearly designed for a crew. Splitting roles—one person hunting for food, one building the base, and another gathering ore—makes the tight mission timers much more manageable.

Note: The Console Edition does not currently support cross-play with PC, so make sure your squad is all on Xbox!

Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?

ICARUS: Console Edition is a “flawed diamond.” It is one of the most atmospheric and beautiful survival games on the market, and the session-based mission structure provides a sense of purpose that “endless” survival games often lack.

Pros:

  • Breathtaking visuals and weather effects.
  • “New Frontiers” expansion included for free.
  • Deep, rewarding progression system.
  • Intense, high-stakes extraction gameplay.

Cons:

  • UI and menus are clearly ported from PC and can be finicky.
  • Occasional frame drops during heavy storms.
  • The early-game grind can feel repetitive if you fail a mission.

Final Score: 8/10

If you’re a fan of Valheim, Ark, or 7 Days to Die and want a more structured, sci-fi challenge, ICARUS is a must-play. Just be prepared to wrestle with the menus—and keep a fire extinguisher handy for your base.

Check it out on the Xbox Store: ICARUS – Console Edition

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